Local School Takes Great California ShakeOut Seriously

Pasadena businesses and schools joined 9.6 million Californians for the annual statewide earthquake drill called â€œThe Great California ShakeOutâ€ on Thursday at 10:17 a.m.

While participating in the â€œdrop, cover, and hold,â€ at 10:17 was the minimum the Fire Department asked all Pasadena residents to do to participate, Pasadena Christian School and Preschool took the drill to the next level simulating disaster scenarios and conducting emergency response procedures

â€œThere are so many threats to schools, thereâ€™s fires, bombs, people with guns, but probably the most serious and the one that is inevitable is an earthquake especially in California. Itâ€™s not a matter of if, itâ€™s a matter of when,â€ Pasadena Christian School Superintendent Dr. Steven Gray said.

Pasadena Christian has been perfecting the school earthquake preparedness procedure for several years, building upon the scenario each year adding a triage for injured students this year. The fire department came to help assess the drill and give advice for improvement.

â€œWe learned how difficult it is to communicate when you have 450 kids and 70 adults and nine acres of buildings,â€ Gray said.

The first responders on site were encouraged by the organization the school showed and had only minor improvements. The drill operated much like the city would in a real situation, using radios and calling orders down from the emergency operation center.

â€œNot only do they do the minimum, this year they had the triage, evacuation, they brought out their disaster supplies,â€ Emergency Management Coordinator Lisa Derderian said. â€œThe fact that theyâ€™re using students as victims, helping them understand how the process works is great from our perspective. Were here to evaluate what theyâ€™re doing, weâ€™ve noticed a few minor things they can now alter so when we do have an earthquake they can change their policies.â€

With more than 50 private schools and more public schools, the fire department will not be able to make it to every school, so being self sustaining in an emergency as a school will be necessary.

â€œWe feel a lot better knowing a school like this is prepared because that alleviates a lot of the response on us knowing they can be self sufficient. Thatâ€™s what we want to encourage in other schools and neighborhood groups and businesses to be self sufficient knowing we may not be able to get there for a while,â€ Derderian said.

Every one of the Pasadena Christian School staff members is trained in first aid and various emergency drills are practiced monthly at the school.

The drill simulated injuries, 2-3 deaths, people being trapped, an entire trapped classroom, gas leaks, and destroyed buildings and gates.

â€œWe have a lot of issues with people who are not at their posts because theyâ€™re trapped, so I think the confusion is definitely here. Weâ€™re having to adapt quite a bit,â€ Â Pasadena Christian Junior High Principal Ken OrrÂ said. Orr was part of the Emergency Operating Center. â€œI feel like weâ€™ve set up some realistic scenarios that will help us know what to do. Iâ€™m already making notes on how to improve.â€

Orr takes part in working on the disaster plan so he enjoys the opportunity to test the plan and make changes, but realizes they could never anticipate all the possibilities.

â€œI was really impressed as a parent with what they did here today. I feel relieved knowing about the effort they do,â€ Pamela Madrid said.

Another mother of a four-year-old came as a volunteer to help with the scenario. She spoke the previous day with her son about the drill.

â€œYesterday I told him theyâ€™re going to practice the shakeout drill for an emergency and he said â€˜Bunny in a holeâ€™ and he dropped and covered his head and held on. He knew exactly what to do based on what he had learned in preschool,â€ Heather Burkhart said.

The hope is that students will go home and discuss what to do in an earthquake with their families and help make a plan at home.

The City issued basic safety precautions to prepare for an earthquake: secure safe spaces and movable items; create a disaster plan; prepare disaster supplies that include food, water, medications and other needs; safeguard finances; drop, cover and hold on when the ground shakes; and help the injured once the shaking stops.

Dederian said several of the city officers took part in the â€œdrop, cover, and hold.â€ The Police Department practiced their earthquake protocol in a disaster, the information technology department practiced their floor warden programs as well as what would happen if the internet was down, and the fire department took the fire trucks and ambulances out of the building to allow for response.

Pasadena City College and Pasadena Public Library also took part in the statewide drill. For more information about the Great California ShakeOUt go to www.shakeout.org/california.